Means for leveling labels transversely for labeling



Nov. M, 1950 F. HENARES ETAL MEANS FOR LEVELING LABELS TRANSVERSELY FOR LABELING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1948 NW 14, 31950 F. HENARES ET AL MEANS FOR LEVELING LABELS TRANSVERSELY FOR LABELING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 7, 1948 Patented Nov. 14, 1950 MEANS FOR LEVELIN G LABELS TRANS- VERSELY FOR LABELING Frank Henares, San Leandro, and Carlos Gallegos, Decoto, Calif. 1

Application May 7, 1948, Serial No. 25,568 I Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in the label feeding mechanism of labeling machines, and particularly to means for leveling labels transversely or about a longitudinal axis while the machine is in operation.

It is known that means is provided for leveling the labels longitudinally about a transverse aXis or for providing any desired inclination, but so far as known, no means has ever been provided for leveling the labels transversely about a longitudinal axis, therefore causing shutdowns until the high side of the label stack has been manually compressed sufficiently so that they will wrap in line about the cans or other articles being labeled.

It is also well known that in many cases the labels are thicker on one side than the other because of differences in the thickness of application of the printing mediums and embossing, and though the diilerence for one label might be practically unmeasurable, a stack of labels may be sufliciently greater in thickness on one side than the other as to cause many rejects because of out-of-line labeling, and to require shut-downs so as to permit depressing of the high side of the stack of labels, and it is this feature which is corrected by our invention which provides a label bed which can be adjusted transversely for leveling or about a longitudinal axis to any necessary degree to provide a level top for a stack of labels and permits adjustment at any period while the machine is in operation. As will be realized, when the labels are thicker on one side than the other, frequent adjustments will be necessary because of the lesser number of labels which changes the degree of inclination. The adjusting means being directly accessible permits this adjustment immediately when required.

The objects and advantages of the invention are as follows:

First, to provide means for leveling the top of a stack of labels about a longitudinal axis for correct feeding of the labels and in line labeling of containers.

Second, to provide means as outlined which is directly accessible for immediate adjustment of the stack for maintaining the level of the top of the stack.

Third, to provide means as outlined which permits very slight or major adjustments of the stack at will.

Fourth, to provide a labeling machine with a separate label bed and bed mount to be mounted on the label plate, and which label bed can be removed and replaced at will, to provide for labels of different sizes.

Fifth, to provide means as outlined which is relatively simple in construction and operation, economical to manufacture and easy to install.

In describing the invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the preferred form of the invention showing a stack of labels in position.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of Fig. 1 showing the preferred adjusting means.

Fig. 3 shows a modification of the adjusting means and showing the label feed table tilted to compensate for Variations in thickness of th respective sides of the labels.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 45 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows another modification of the label level adjusting means as applied to a different type of label plate, shown in end view.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of Fig. 5 shown partly in section.

Fig. '7 is a top plan view of the label plate of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 shows another modification of the adjusting means for the label feed table.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation of Fig. 8 and shows the longitudinal adjusting arm which is conventional on some labeling machines.

The conventional labeling machine has the label guides l0 and H and the guide fingers I2 and Q3 and a label plate M which is operated by conventional means to raise the stack l5 of labels as they are removed from the top of the stack by the containers, the feeding being carried out by well known means and controlled by the containers as they pick up the labels.

A label table is conventionally mounted on top of the label plate and it is this label table which is replaced by our invention which is mounted on the label plate and which operates in the same manner so far as vertical feed and longitudinal leveling adjustment about a transverse axis is concerned and consists in its prer ferred form of a bracket I6 which is mounted on top of the label plate and secured by means of the standard screws H, and this bracket has a depending arm E8 on which is formed or mounted an adjusting bearing l9, and a pair of bearings 2!] and 2! are formed or mounted on the respective ends on the top of this bracket.

The label table 22 has a pair of stub shafts 23 and 24 attached to the underside by one end as indicated with both shafts projecting in the same direction to enter the bearings 2| and 20, and the shaft 24 is provided with a collar 25 to retain the table in position on the bracket 14. An arm 26 extends downwardly from the bearing 23, and a connection or pull rod 2'! is pivoted in the lower end of this arm as indicated at 28 with the other end of the pull rod slidably operating through the bearing [9, this rod being threaded as indicated at 29. In the preferred form a compression spring 30 encompasses the pull rod and cooperates between the arm 26 and the bearing l9, and a suitable thumb nut or knurled nut 3| is provided for closely adjusting the pull rod to tilt the table about its longitudinal axis to compensate for differences in thickness of the respective sides 32 and 33 of the stack of labels 34.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the spring is replaced by a check nut 35.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the plate bracket 36 is arcuately formed and has the arm 3! for adjustment of the level longitudinally, the plate being conventionally fixedly secured thereon. Our modification consists in providing slots 38 in the respective ends to replace the conventional bolt holes, and securing the plate 39 in any adjusted position as indicated at 39 by means of the screws 40. This type however is not so convenient to adjust nor as accessible. However, the type shown in Fig. 1 to 4 can also be applied to this type of plate by solidly mounting the plate and mounting the bracket l8 and table 22 thereon.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the arm ill which corresponds to the arm 26 in Figs. 1 to 4 terminates in an arcuately slotted quadrant 42 having the slot 43 through which the screw 44 passes and through which the table 45 is secured in any adjusted position by the knurled nut 46, the table being similarly removable at will as that shown in Figs. 1 to 4.

In operation, if it is found that the top one of the stack of labels is not level, it is merely necessary to operate the nut 3| by the fingers to provide the necessary tilt to the table to level the top of the stack, referring to Fig. 2, while with that shown in Fig. 3 it is necessary to free the nuts and adjust to suit. For that shown in Figs, 5, 6 and '7, the screws must be released, and the plate must then be tilted manually, while in Figs. 8 and 9 the nut 46 must be released, the table tilted through the medium of the arm 4| to the proper position and the nut tightened, therefore it will be realized that the type shown in Fig. 2 is preferable because the adjustment is conveniently accessible at all times from the front of the machine and merely requires finger operation of the nut 3! for any adjustment which is quickly carried out while the machine is in operation, and the level of the stack can be maintained during the entire feeding period of a stack by a slight occasional movement of the nut 3|.

It will be realized that this adjustment will eliminate shut-downs because of transverse label inclination and will also eliminate rejects because of faulty labeling, saving labels, keeping the line of machines in constant operation, eliminating rejects, and increasing production, and producing a more perfectl labeled product.

We claim:

1. In a labeling machine having guides for a stack of labels and a label plate and means for leveling said label plate longitudinally to compensate for variations in thickness of the respective ends of the top surface of the stack; a label table mounted on said label plate, and inclinable adjusting means cooperative between said label table and label plate for adjusting transversely the level of the top one of a stack of labels supported on said label table, to compensate for variations in thickness of the respective sides of the labels.

2. In a labeling machine having guides for a stack of labels and a label plate and means for leveling the label plate longitudinally; a label table tiltably mounted on said label plate for adjustment about a longitudinal axis, and means for manually adjusting the tilt of said table transversely about the longitudinal axis of said table to adjust the level of the top one of a stack of labels to compensate for variations in thickness of the respective sides of the stack of labels.

3. A structure as defined in claim 2; a bracket fixedly secured on said label plate and having a first depending arm at one end and having a bearing adjacent each end on the top thereof,

said label table having a stub shaft at each end and projecting in the same direction and in axial alignment for pivotal support in said bearings for tilting and for convenient removal of the label table, and said table having a second depending arm in cooperativ relation to said first depending arm, and means cooperating between said arms for manual adjustment of the table transversely about said longitudinal axis and including means securing the arms in adjusted position.

4. A structure as defined in claim 3; said means cooperating between said arms comprising a bearing on said first depending arm and a threaded element slidably operating therethrough and having one end pivotally connected to said second depending arm, and a nut for each side of said bearing for said threaded element for adjusting said second depending arm to adjust the tilt of the table, and means for retaining said threaded element in adjusted position.

5. Means for transversely inclinably adjusting a stack of labels for adjustment of the topmost labels to a level position to compensate for variation in thickness of the respective sides of the labels comprising; a label plate and a longitudinal leveling means therefor, a bracket for mounting on the label plate and having a first depending arm at one end and a bearing at each end on the top surface thereof; a label table having spaced pivot-s on the underside for pivotal support by said bearings and having a second depending arm cooperatively related to said first depending arm with said second arm manually movable to adjust the inclination of the table transversely about the longitudinal axis of the table, and means for securing the label table in adjusted position.

6. A structure as defined in claim 5; said pivots comprising stub shafts having one end secured to the bottom of the table and both projecting in the same direction for convenient removal or replacement from said bearings on said bracket at will, and means on one of said shafts for cooperation With its bearing for releasably securing said table against removal.

'7. A structure as defined in claim 5; an adjusting bearing on said first depending arm, a threaded element having pivotal connection at one end with said second depending arm and slidable in said adjusting bearing on said first depending arm, and a nut for said threaded element and a compression spring interposed be tween said second depending arm and said adjusting bearing on said depending plate, with said nut directly accessible for adjustment of said second depending arm relative to said first depending arm at will.

8. A structure as defined in claim 5; said pivots comprising stub shafts having one end secured to the bottom of the table and both projecting in the same direction for convenient removal or replacement of said table at will, and means for releasably securing said table against removal; a bearing on said first depending arm, a threaded element having pivotal connection at one end with said second depending arm and slidable in said adjusting bearing on said depending plate, and a nut for said threaded element and a compression spring interposed between said first depending arm and said adjusting bearing on said second depending arm, with said nut directly accessible for adjustment of said second depending arm relative to said first depending arm at will.

9. An attachment for a labeling machine label plate having means for leveling the label plate longitudinally, comprising; a support and means for securing said support to said label plate; a label table pivotally supported on a longitudinal axis on said label plate for transverse leveling of the label table about said longitudinal axis, and means manually operable for leveling said label table and for securing said label table in leveled or adjusted position.

10. An attachment for a label plate having means for adjusting the plate longitudinally relative to the horizontal plane, comprising: a support and means for securing said support to said 6 A label plate; a bearing on the top surface at each end of said support and in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the label plate; a label table having a stub shaft at each end and both projecting in the same direction in spaced relation below the underside of the plate, with one end of each shaft fixed to the undersurface of the table and the other ends of the shafts pivoted in said bearings and with the shafts in axial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the table; means for releasably securing said shafts against removal from said bearings; and means directly accessible and cooperating between said label table and said support for adjusting the label table about its pivotal support in said bearings for adjusting the level of the top ones of a stack of labels transversely about said longitudinal axis.

FRANK HENARES.

CARLOS GALLEGOS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,773,977 Ericksen Aug. 26, 1930 2,137,381 Blackstone Nov. 22, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 393,885 Germany Feb. 21, 1923 

